William Harvey

William "Bill" Harvey is currently serving as chief of police in south central Pennsylvania. He retired from the Savannah (Ga.) Police Department where he worked assignments in training, patrol, and CID. Harvey has more than 25 years of experience working with recruits, rookies, and FTOs.

Because the market is so competitive, you must try harder and give your best at all times. Treat every application as the most important document you've ever filled out. Slight mistakes, omissions, or sloppiness can result in elimination.

Police officers can be their own worst enemy. Do us all a favor and do not take the easy way out; it just makes for more work in the long run. There are several shortcut traps out there. Your FTO should tell you about them, but just in case….

The other day, one of my readers e-mailed me a tough question. The young officer stated that he was a faithful reader seeking some sage advice. He wanted my insights on how to balance "the job" with his pending fatherhood. This made me do some soul searching.

Whoever created the analogy of butterflies in your stomach to represent the uncertainties of the first day missed the mark. Recalling my rookie days─now having had a few─the feeling to me is more like buzzards circling in your gut.

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